waterman



2 ShetsSheet 1. H. NELSON & M. J. WATERMAN.

COMBINED DESK'PRAMB AND TABLET.

N0.265,855. Patented Oct. 10, 1882.

(No Model.)

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WITESSESi. INVENTORS:

. WM. l-l. NELSON, fl fwm M. d. WATERMAN,

xwgwhm. ATTYS 2 Sheets-Sheet? W. H. NELSON & M. J. WATERMAN.

COMBINED DESKILFRAMB AND TABLET.

(No Model.)

N0.265,855 v Patented Oct. 10, 1882..

Fi 6. Fi Z WITNESSES: INVENTORS-I Jim WM. H. NELSON,

Wrfw BY M; u. WATERMAN,

ATTYE.

UNiTED STATES Q PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. NELSON AND MOSES J. WATERMAN, OF ALEXANDRIA, VA.

COMBINED DESK-FRAME AND TABLET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,855, dated October 10, 1882.

Application filed April 22, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. NELSON and Moses J. WATERMAN, of Alexandria, county of Alexandria, and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combined Desk-Frame and Tablet; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and t0 the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention consists broadly in the combination of a proper supporting-surface with a continuous strip of paper lying on said surface and hand mechanism for moving the paper over the surface when desired.

It consists, further, in the combination, with the foregoing, of mechanism for limiting the movement of the paper to one direction only.

Itconsists, further,in certain specific details of construction, which, in connection with the foregoing, will be fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our improved writing-tablet; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of the same; Fig. 3, a rear view of the body portion of the case removed from the back-board; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the case removed from the back-board with the door partially open; Fig. 5, a transverse section across the bottom of the case, and Figs. 6 and 7 enlarged views of a modified form of the tablet-case.

To enable others skilled in the art to make our improved tablet and properly use the same, we will proceed to describe fully its construction and the manner of its operation.

A represents the body portion of a box or case constructed generally of any proper size or shape, but which is essentially provided upon its front side with the supporting-surface a and the long slots a a, as shown.

B, Figs. 4. and 5, represents the back-board, consisting of an independent piece, of proper width and length, which is provided on each side with a rib or projection, b, adapted to slide in a corresponding recess in each side piece of the case, as shown.

I), Fig. 4, represents astop-block at the lower end of theback-board, by means of which the case or box is supported when in its proper position. v

a? represents one of the side pieces of the case, which is cut away toleave a square opening, as shown.

a represents a door adapted to close the opening, which is provided with ribs or projections adapted to slide in corresponding recesses, as shown.

a represents a vertical recess formed at the rear side edge of the door, which is adapted to receive the rib b of the back-board when the latter is in place.

0. represents an opening in the front of the case, which may be protected, if desired, bya piece of glass, and a a", Fig. 2, flanges or other proper means for holding cards for conveying any desired information.

a represents a lock, of any desiredponstruction, by means of which the body portion of the case is secured to the back-board when desired.

0 represents a spool upon which has been wound a strip of paper, which spool is provided with journals 0 0, as shown.

0 represents a fixed bearing upon one side of the case for the journal of the spool, and c a movable bearing upon the other side for the opposite journal.

D represents a spring adapted to bear upon the face of the spool when the latter is in poby means of which the roller E is compelled to revolve in the direction of the arrow.

F also represents a roller, preferably of rubber, which is supported in proper hearings in the case in such manner as to be revolved by contact with the roller E. The end ofthe strip of paper is taken from the spool and passed out from the case through the lower slot, a thence over the supporting-surface a and into the case again through the upper slot, or, to the rollers E F. By then revolving the roller E the strip may be drawn over the supportingsurface as may be desired.

The operation is substantially as follows: The case, with its paper strip arranged in the manner described, having been placed in its proper position upon the back-board, which has itself been properly located on an office-door or other suitable place, the tablet is ready for use. Anydesired communication may be written upon the paper, and when written the same may bedrawn into the case out of sight by simply revolving the knob or crank. As the paper strip moves upward, it follows that a communication of any length may be continuously written. As the rollerE cannot be revolved in a backward direction, it follows that when any part of the strip is drawn into the case it cannot be drawn out again, and hence such communication is hidden from any" subsequent writer. By simply unlocking the body portion from the back-board and lifting off the former the interior of the case is exposed, and then the written portion of the strip may be readily removed.

. If desired, the rollers E and F may have their bearin gs formed in an independent plate, so they can be readily removed when desired. The supporting-surface may be straight, as shown in Fig. 1, or curved, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and also the general outline of the case may be indefinitely varied.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a combined desk and tablet, the spool O and spring D, the supporting-surface a, with slots on afland the drawing-rollers E F, with ratchet and pawl e e, as described.

2. In a desk or tablet case, the independent back-board B, adapted for permanent attachment to a suitable surface, in combination with the removable bod; portion A and means, substantially as described, for securing the body portion to the back-board.

3. In combination with the permanently-attached back-board B to a suitable surface and removable body portion A, the sliding door (t the door being adapted to be opened only when the body portion is removed from the backboard, as shown and described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 4th day of April, 1882.

WM. H. NELSON.

M. J. WATERMAN.

Witnesses:

J. M. REED, L. L. BRAGER. 

